Automated identification of aspirated saline solution during vitreoretinal surgery

An automated system for identifying an aspirated fluid mixture during a vitreoretinal surgery performed by a surgeon using a vitrector, the automated system comprising:

• an indicator device;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) in communication with the indicator device, wherein the ECU includes a memory containing multiple lookup tables each (i) populated with a primary constituent fluid of the aspirated fluid mixture, and (ii) indexed by a volumetric flow rate and a vacuum strength of the vitrector, and wherein the ECU is configured to:
• estimate a fluid property value of the aspirated fluid mixture in response to a set of input signals, wherein the aspirated fluid mixture includes saline solution and either vitreous or silicone oil suctioned from a vitreous cavity of a patient eye using a vitrector during the vitreoretinal surgery;
• identify the saline solution as a primary constituent fluid of the aspirated fluid mixture based on the fluid property value based on (i) a surgeon-adjustable threshold percentage of the saline solution in the aspirated fluid mixture, and (ii) the fluid property value;
• activate an indicator device in response to the primary constituent fluid being the saline solution, including transmitting an electronic activation signal to the indicator device to thereby control an activation logic state of the indicator device;
• and
• increase the surgeon-adjustable threshold percentage during the vitreoretinal surgery such that a higher concentration of the saline solution in the aspirated fluid mixture is permitted, thereby tuning the activation logic state to a preference of the surgeon.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is recorded instructions, executable by a processor to identify an aspirated fluid mixture during a vitreoretinal surgery performed by a surgeon, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes the processor to:

• during the vitreoretinal surgery, receive a vacuum strength applied to a vitrector, a model or type of the vitrector, and a volumetric flow rate of saline solution that is infused into a vitreous cavity of a patient eye;
• compare the volumetric flow rate to a flow rate threshold corresponding to a model or type of the vitrector and the vacuum strength;
• identify the primary constituent fluid of the aspirated fluid mixture based on (i) a surgeon-adjustable threshold percentage of the saline solution in the aspirated fluid mixture, and (ii) the volumetric flow rate exceeding the flow rate threshold;
• control an activation logic state of an indicator device in response to the primary constituent fluid being at or above the surgeon-adjustable threshold percentage of the saline solution, including transmitting an electronic activation signal to the indicator device;
• and
• selectively increase the surgeon-adjustable threshold percentage during the vitreoretinal surgery, such that a higher concentration of the saline solution in the aspirated fluid mixture is permitted, thereby tuning the activation logic state to a preference of the surgeon.